Lindsey Vonn injury: U.S. ski star airlifted after crash in final downhill race before Milan Cortina Olympics

Vonn last competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics, taking home a bronze medal in the women’s downhill competition. Over the course of her historic career, she has won one gold medal (2010 women’s downhill competition) and two bronze medals.

“I know she hurt her knee’ I talked to her,” International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann told reporters in the finish area. “I don’t know if it’s really heavy and (if) she won’t miss the Olympics. Let’s wait for what the doctors are saying.”

Lindsey Vonn was seeking first Olympic appearance since 2018

The Saint Paul, Minn., native has been airlifted off a course before during the world championships. In 2013, Vonn tore her right knee during the world championships in Austria and suffered the same fate. She would eventually miss the 2014 Olympics due to lingering injury, a fate many hope she doesn’t suffer this year.

The 2026 Winter Olympics emanate from Milano Cortina, Italy, with the opening ceremony taking place on Feb. 6. If Vonn, who came out of retirement after undergoing knee replacement surgery in late 2024, misses the Olympics, it will act as a serious blow to the trailblazer’s second comeback attempt.

Vonn was not the lone skier to crash into the nets on the unfortunate turn at Crans Montana. Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen also ended up in the nets. Ortlieb, however, was taken away in a sled. France’s Romane Miradoli commented on how difficult the track was following her run.

“You can’t see,” Miradoli said. “And, it’s bumpy everywhere.”

Just last month, Vonn claimed her 83rd World Cup victory in downhill skiing in St. Moritz. Now, just one month later, it appears as if her status for the Winter Olympics is currently up in the air.